Apparatus and method for facilitating breast self-examinations

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for facilitating breast self-examinations and the recordation of evaluative results therefrom, wherein a thin-materialed, tight-fitting, shirt-like garment having a low-coefficient of friction and possessing breast self-examination patterns thereon is utilized to guide a user&#39;s fingers during examination of her breasts, and wherein a marking instrument is utilized to mark or ink areas of suspected abnormalities directly on the garment, thereby facilitating future identification and/or comparison with new examination results or findings. The present apparatus and method enables a user to conduct a breast self-examination by palpating her breasts from the outside of the garment, as opposed to directly feeling or contacting her bare breasts.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to medical examination devicesand methods, and more specifically to an apparatus and method forfacilitating breast self-examinations and the recordation of evaluativeresults therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recent clinical research studies have established that approximately onein eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in herlifetime. However, through guidance from breast cancer awarenessprograms, medical practitioners and associated routine professionalexaminations, women are encouraged to take a proactive role in reducingthe likelihood of developing breast cancer via performing monthly breastself-examinations. Such breast self-examinations typically involveactive observation of the superficial breast tissue to visually identifyany abnormal changes thereto, and further involve the feeling orpalpating of the breast tissue to actively recognize any lump, nodule ortumor that might be an early sign of breast cancer.

Although it is recommended that breast self-examinations not replaceregular clinical breast exams by a health professional, it is generallyrecognized that routine breast self-examinations serve as anindispensable primary preventative health measure in a woman's generalhealth maintenance. Additionally, breast self-examinations enable awoman to create an intimate knowledge of her breasts to facilitateexpeditious recognition of any changes and/or abnormalities that maysignify breast cancer and/or other breast conditions requiringprofessional medical evaluation.

To conduct the palpating portion of the breast self-examination, it isgenerally recommended that women utilize alternating levels of pressure,ranging from superficial to deep pressure, when palpating the breast todetect the presence of lumps or other abnormalities. To facilitatepalpating of the breast, and to effectively examine all relevant breasttissue and chest area, including the armpit, across the collarbone anddown the front of the sternum, three established examination patternsare available, loosely termed the vertical or stripes pattern, spiral orcircular pattern, and wedge pattern.

Although women are encouraged to familiarize themselves with such breastself-examination patterns for proper and thorough examination of theirbreast tissue, many women are, unfortunately, either completelyunapprised of, or only moderately familiar with such patterns, and assuch, are likely to improperly conduct their breast self-examination.Additionally, even women familiar with the breast self-examinationpatterns often neglect to examine all areas considered to be breasttissue, such as the armpit.

Moreover, palpating the breast tissue requires that the woman maintainher fingers against the breast tissue at all times during theexamination, gliding her fingers thereover to ensure thoroughexamination of all relevant areas. However, human skin is inherentlyfrictional due to sweat gland secretions, hair, and the like. As such tofacilitate the frictionless palpating movement and examination of thebreast tissue, women are usually required to apply a lubricant or powderto the examination area to reduce overall friction thereacross. Althoughnecessary for proper examination, application of suchfriction-eliminating substrates can be messy, therefore entailingsubsequent clean-up and inconvenience, and protracting the overallexamination process.

Of additional concern, and seemingly absent from available breastself-examination processes, is a method of effectively recording thelocation of lumps or other abnormalities discovered during theexamination for future identification, relocation, and/or comparisonwith new examination results or findings. As such, it often becomesdifficult for many women to remember and locate sites of abnormalitiesfrom one examination period to another, and therefore either establishesa potential false sense of complacency upon the non-discovery of thelump in the area of the breast thought to contain same, or a sense oftrepidation in seemingly inconsistent examination results.

Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a need for an apparatusand method that avoids the above-discussed disadvantages of current barebreast self-examination processes, yet facilitates the palpating portionof the examination and the contemporaneous recordation and futureretrieval of evaluative results therefrom.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present inventionovercomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognizedneed for such a device by providing an apparatus and method forfacilitating breast self-examinations and the recordation of evaluativeresults therefrom, wherein a thin-materialed, tightly-fitting,shirt-like garment having a low-coefficient of friction and comprisingbreast self-examination patterns thereon is utilized to guide a user'sfingers during examination of her breasts, and wherein a markinginstrument is utilized to mark or ink areas of suspected abnormalitiesdirectly on the garment, thereby facilitating future identificationand/or comparison with new examination results or findings. The presentapparatus and method enables a user to conduct a breast self-examinationby palpating her breasts from the outside of the garment, as opposed todirectly feeling or contacting her bare breasts.

According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present inventionin its preferred form is an apparatus and method for facilitating breastself-examinations and the recordation of evaluative results therefrom,having, in general, a shirt-like garment, breast self-examinationpatterns, and a marking pen or instrument.

More specifically, the present invention is an apparatus and method forfacilitating breast self-examinations and the recordation of evaluativeresults therefrom, having a shirt-like garment preferably fabricatedfrom a low-friction and thin Spandex material, LYRCA material, nylonmaterial, cottons, polyesters, latex, composites thereof, and/or othersuitably thin materials. The garment is preferably manufactured in avariety of tight or form-fitting sizes to exert a sufficiently minimalpressure against the wearer's breasts for maintaining the breasts in arelatively stationary and flattened position to facilitate thoroughexamination of all the breast tissue.

Each shirt preferably possesses any one established and conventionalbreast examination pattern printed thereon (i.e., vertical or stripespattern, spiral or circular pattern, and wedge pattern), preferably overeach breast. Preferably, two alignment marks centered within each of thepatterns are utilized to align the wearer's nipples underneath the shirtrelative to the overlying examination patterns, thereby ensuring properexamination of the breast tissue. Additionally, each shirt preferablypossesses an examination pattern positioned underneath the armpit areasthereof, thus permitting guided examination of same. Due to therelatively thin nature and low-coefficient of friction of the materialutilized to fabricate the shirt, the user is able to conduct the breastexam by palpating her breasts from the outside of the shirt; that is,without having to insert her hands through, under, or within the shirtto feel and examine her bare breasts.

The shirt material is further preferably adapted to receive and maintainink markings applied directly thereon via a non-permanent and/orpermanent ink-marking pen. Contemporaneous use of the marking pen duringexamination of the breasts enables the wearer to designate or mark areasof potential abnormalities and/or lump, nodule, or tumor developments,thereby facilitating identification, relocation, and/or comparison ofsame with new examination results or findings at a later date (i.e.,before a medical practitioner). It is preferred that a non-permanentmarking pen be utilized to enable the washing and reuse of the garment,thereby avoiding potential confusion of older markings with new findingsand associated markings.

Accordingly, a feature and advantage of the present invention is itsability to facilitate breast self-examinations of all relevant breasttissue and chest area, including the armpit, across the collarbone anddown the front of the sternum.

A feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability toform-fit the wearer to maintain the breasts in a substantiallystationary and suitably flattened position to facilitate examination ofsame.

A feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability topermit the recordation of abnormal findings via directly marking suchareas on the garment via a marking pen or other instrument.

A feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability topermit the reduced or low friction guidance of the wearer's fingersacross the patterns printed thereon, thus eliminating the need forexternal lubricant or powders as commonly utilized in conventionalbreast examination processes.

A feature and advantage of the present invention is the fabrication ofthe garment from any suitable thin material that permits effectiveexamination of the breasts from the outside of the garment, as opposedto feeling and examining the bare breasts, and/or insertion of thewearer's hands through or within the garment for examination of her barebreasts thereunder.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from thefollowing description and claims when read in light of the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood by reading the DetailedDescription of the Preferred and Alternate Embodiments with reference tothe accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference numeralsdenote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an apparatus for facilitating breastself-examinations according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an apparatus for facilitating breastself-examinations according to an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an apparatus for facilitating breastself-examinations according to an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of an apparatus for facilitating breastself-examinations according to an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an apparatus for facilitating breastself-examinations according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, shown in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In describing the preferred and alternate embodiments of the presentinvention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, specific terminology is employedfor the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to belimited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to beunderstood that each specific element includes all technical equivalentsthat operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the present invention in a preferredembodiment is an apparatus 10, wherein apparatus 10 facilitates breastself-examinations and the recordation of evaluative results therefrom,and wherein apparatus 10 preferably generally includes garment 20 andmarking instrument 40.

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 1, garment 20 is preferablyshirt-like and preferably fabricated from a low-friction, stretchable,and thin material, such as, for exemplary purposes only, Spandex, LYRCA,nylon, cotton blends, polyester blends, rayon blends, latex, compositesthereof, and/or other suitably thin materials, including but not limitedto, textile fabrics, plastics, or combinations thereof. To accommodatewomen of differing body and breast or cup size, garment 20 is preferablymanufactured in a variety of tight or form-fitting sizes. Preferably,the form-fitting, yet stretchable nature of the fabric of garment 20,functions to exert a sufficiently minimal pressure against the wearer'sbreasts for maintaining the breasts in a relatively stationary andflattened position to facilitate thorough examination of the breasttissue, as more fully described below.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, garment 20 preferably possesses verticalpatterns 22 and 24 printed thereon, wherein patterns 22 and 24preferably represent an established and conventional breast examinationpattern, and wherein patterns 22 and 24 are preferably disposed ongarment 20 in such a manner so as to overly the wearer's breasts whengarment 20 is in use, as more fully described below.

Preferably, alignment marks 26 and 28 are centrally disposed withinpatterns 22 and 24, respectively, and are preferably utilized to alignthe wearer's nipples underneath garment 20 relative to the overlyingexamination patterns 22 and 24, respectively; thus, ensuring properalignment of patterns 22 and 24 over the wearer's breasts and, in turn,proper examination of all relevant breast tissue. It is contemplated inan alternate embodiment that alignment marks 26 and 28 could be replacedwith apertures for the exit and accommodation of the wearer's nipplestherethrough, and the subsequent proper alignment of patterns 22 and 24over the respective breasts, wherein the apertures would furtherfacilitate examination of the user's nipples for color changes ordiscoloration, fluid discharge, lumps, or the like.

Preferably, spiral or circular-like examination patterns 30 and 32 aredisposed or printed on respective armpit areas 34 and 36 of garment 20.Armpit patterns 30 and 32 preferably function to permit the guidedexamination of breast tissue lying within the armpit region of thewearer.

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 2, illustrated therein is analternate embodiment of garment 20, wherein the alternate embodiment ofFIG. 2 is substantially equivalent in form and function to that of thepreferred embodiment detailed and illustrated in FIG. 1 except ashereinafter specifically referenced. Specifically, the embodiment ofFIG. 2 replaces vertical examination patterns 22 and 24 with spiral orcircular patterns 122 and 124, wherein patterns 122 and 124 represent anestablished and conventional breast examination pattern, and whereinpatterns 122 and 124 are also disposed on garment 20 in such a manner soas to overly the wearer's breasts when garment 20 is in use.

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 3, illustrated therein is analternate embodiment of garment 20, wherein the alternate embodiment ofFIG. 3 is substantially equivalent in form and function to that of thepreferred embodiment detailed and illustrated in FIG. 1 except ashereinafter specifically referenced. Specifically, the embodiment ofFIG. 3 replaces vertical examination patterns 22 and 24 with wedgepatterns 222 and 224, wherein patterns 222 and 224 represent anestablished and conventional breast examination pattern, and whereinpatterns 222 and 224 are also disposed on garment 20 in such a manner soas to overly the wearer's breasts when garment 20 is in use.

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 4, illustrated therein is analternate embodiment of garment 20, wherein the alternate embodiment ofFIG. 4 is substantially equivalent in form and function to that of thepreferred embodiment detailed and illustrated in FIG. 1 except ashereinafter specifically referenced. Specifically, the embodiment ofFIG. 4 incorporates printed quadrant lines 300 and 302, and printedcircumscribed area 304, in conjunction with examination patterns 22 and24, wherein a circumscribed area 304 is concentrically disposed abouteach alignment mark 26 and 28, and wherein each circumscribed area 304is bisected by quadrant lines 300 and 302. As such, quadrant lines 300and 302 divide underlying vertical examination patterns 22 and 24, andthe surrounding area, into four equal quadrants, wherein circumscribedarea 304 defines an additional segregated area. The equal quadrantsdefined by quadrant lines 300 and 302, and the area defined bycircumscribed area 304, are numbered 1-5 to designate the approximatepercentage of breast cancers found in each area, wherein suchpercentages are clinically established percentages. Therefore, thedefined quadrant area designated with the number “1” would be consideredan area of higher percentage of breast cancer occurrence, wherein thedefined quadrant area designated with the number “5” would be consideredan area of lower percentage of breast cancer occurrence, with theremaining areas “2-4” falling therebetween. Such a configurationencourages the wearer to examine breast tissue falling within quadrantsof higher percentage of breast cancer occurrence with extreme care so asto maximize the breast self-examination process. It is furthercontemplated that the quadrants defined by quadrant lines 300 and 302,and the area defined by circumscribed area 304, could instead becolored-coded to indicate approximate percentage of breast canceroccurrence in each area.

Although examination patterns 22, 24, 122, 124, 222 and 224, quadrantlines 300 and 302, and circumscribed area 304, of the respectivepreferred and alternate embodiments, are utilized to implement thepresent method of breast self-examination, it should be recognized thatother examination patterns commensurate with established and/or newmedical practice could be utilized without departing from theappreciative scope of the present apparatus and method, as suchalternate examination patterns are clearly within the contemplation ofthe inventors in describing the present invention herein. Additionally,it is further contemplated that examination patterns 22, 24, 122, 124,222 and 224, quadrant lines 300 and 302, and circumscribed area 304,could be entirely or selectively combined with one another to provide acustomized breast self-examination garment 20, wherein each selectedpattern could be differently colored, textured, lined, or otherwise, tofacilitate distinguishing one examination pattern from the other.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in use, garment 20 is preferably worn by auser, wherein the user preferably aligns alignment marks 26 and 28 overher nipples prior to palpating or examining her breasts via patterns 22and 24. Preferably, due to the relatively thin nature andlow-coefficient of friction of the material utilized to fabricategarment 20, the user is able to conduct the breast exam by palpating herbreasts from the outside of garment 20; that is, without having toinsert her hands through or within garment 20 to feel and examine herbare breasts. Additionally, the low-friction surface of garment 20facilitates gliding of the wearer's fingers over vertical patterns 22and 24, and armpit patterns 30 and 36, thereby eliminating conventionalmethods of lubricating or powdering the bare breasts for examination ofsame.

Should the wearer discover a lump, nodule, tumor and/or otherabnormality during examination of her breast tissue via the preferredand/or alternate examination patterns disposed on garment 20, the wearerpreferably utilizes marking or writing instrument 40 to directly mark ordesignate on garment 20 the problematic areas. Marking instrument 40 ispreferably any suitable ink or similar substrate receivable by thematerial of garment 20 and, in combination with the material or fiberchoice of garment 20, is resistant to bleeding or excessive outwardmovement or dispersion through the material's fibers when appliedthereto, thereby ensuring that the ink delivered from marking instrument40 is confined to the desired marked or designated area. Although it ispreferred that marking instrument 40 deliver a non-permanent ink orsimilar substrate to enable the washing and reuse of garment 20, andthereby avoid potential confusion of older markings with new findingsand associated markings, it is contemplated in an alternate embodimentthat marking instrument 40 could deliver permanent ink to resist fadingof same if garment 20 is subsequently washed. It is contemplated in afurther alternate embodiment that hook-and-loop fasteners, stickers, orthe like, could be utilized in place of marking instrument 40, whereinsmall patches of hook-and-loop fastener, or stickers, could be removablyaffixed to garment 20 to mark areas of potential concern.

The present method of marking abnormalities directly on garment 20preferably facilitates accurate future identification, relocation,and/or comparison of the markings with new examination results orfindings, especially in view of the form-fitting nature of garment 20.As such, should a user desire to accurately demonstrate to a medicalpractitioner the location of a discovered lump or other abnormality, theuser preferably wears garment 20 during the medical examination, makingthe appropriate adjustments of alignment marks 26 and 28 over hernipples, and points out the marked areas to the medical practitioner forhis/her further evaluative attention.

It is contemplated in an alternate embodiment that a plurality ofdifferently colored pens or marking instruments 40 could be utilized todesignate or mark lumps or other abnormalities of varying firmness orthe like, or to differentiate marks applied to garment 20 from oneexamination period to another.

It is contemplated in an alternate embodiment that the preferred and/oralternate forms of the present apparatus and method could be utilized bythe wearer when standing or lying down.

It is contemplated in an alternate embodiment that the preferred and/oralternate forms of the present apparatus and method could be utilized bymen to assist in the detection of male breast cancer.

It is contemplated in an alternate embodiment that the preferred and/oralternate forms of the present apparatus and method could be modified toprovide a garment capable of being utilized to conduct a breastself-examination in the shower or bath tub, perhaps a garment in theform of a bathing suit.

It is contemplated in an alternate embodiment that the preferred and/oralternate forms of the present examination patterns 22, 24, 34, 36, 122,124, 222 and 224, respectively, of garment 20 could be textured tofacilitate breast self-examinations by the visually impaired or blinded.

It is contemplated in an alternate embodiment that the preferred and/oralternate forms of the present apparatus and method could be modified toaccommodate women who have undergone a partial mastectomy, and thereforepossess only one breast.

It is contemplated in an alternate embodiment that the preferred and/oralternate forms of the present apparatus and method could be modified toaccommodate pregnant women, wherein the garment could possess a tight orform-fitting upper portion, and a skirted lower portion to cover thewearer's lower torso or belly region.

Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, itshould be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosuresare exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations,and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention.Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specificembodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the followingclaims.

1. A breast self-examination apparatus, comprising: a form-fitting garment; and, at least one examination pattern disposed on said garment.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said garment is shirt-like and fabricated from a thin material.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said garment comprises a low-coefficient of friction to facilitate hand and finger movement over said at least one examination pattern.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one examination pattern is disposed on said garment in such a manner so as to overly a breast of a wearer of said garment.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said garment further comprises at least one alignment mark centrally disposed within said at least one examination pattern, said at least one alignment mark utilized to center a nipple of the breast of the wearer thereunder to properly align said at least one examination pattern over the breast.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said garment further comprises at least one aperture centrally formed through said at least one examination pattern, said at least one aperture utilized to center a nipple of the breast of the wearer therethrough to properly align said at least one examination pattern over the breast.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said garment further comprises at least one armpit examination pattern disposed under an armpit area of said garment.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one examination pattern is selected from the group consisting of vertical patterns, spiral patterns, wedge patterns, quadrant patterns, circumscribed areas, sectionalized patterns, arrowed patterns, colored patterns, differently lined patterns, textured patterns, and combinations thereof.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one marking instrument for marking or designating areas of suspected abnormalities directly on said garment.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said at least one marking instrument is selected from the group consisting of permanent ink pens, temporary ink pens, non-permanent ink pens, washable ink, differently colored pens, differently colored marking instruments, hook-and-loop fasteners, stickers, and combinations thereof.
 11. A breast self-examination apparatus, comprising: a form-fitting garment; at least one breast examination pattern disposed on said garment; and, at least one armpit examination pattern disposed on said garment.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said garment is shirt-like and fabricated from a thin material.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said garment comprises a low-coefficient of friction to facilitate hand and finger movement over said at least one breast examination pattern and said at least one armpit examination pattern.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said garment further comprises at least one alignment mark centrally disposed within said at least one breast examination pattern, said at least one alignment mark utilized to center a nipple of a breast of a wearer thereunder to properly align said at least one breast examination pattern over the breast.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said garment further comprises at least one aperture centrally formed through said at least one breast examination pattern, said at least one aperture utilized to center a nipple of the breast of the wearer therethrough to properly align said at least one breast examination pattern over the breast.
 16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said at least one breast examination pattern and said at least one armpit examination pattern are selected from the group consisting of vertical patterns, spiral patterns, wedge patterns, quadrant patterns, circumscribed areas, sectionalized patterns, arrowed patterns, colored patterns, differently lined patterns, textured patterns, and combinations thereof.
 17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising at least one marking instrument for marking or designating areas of suspected abnormalities directly on said garment.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said at least one marking instrument is selected from the group consisting of permanent ink pens, temporary ink pens, non-permanent ink pens, washable ink, differently colored pens, differently colored marking instruments, hook-and-loop fasteners, stickers, and combinations thereof.
 19. A breast self-examination apparatus, comprising: a form-fitting garment; at least one examination pattern disposed on said garment; and, at least one marking instrument for marking or designating areas of suspected abnormalities directly on said garment.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said garment is shirt-like and fabricated from a thin material.
 21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said garment comprises a low-coefficient of friction to facilitate hand and finger movement over said at least one examination pattern.
 22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said at least one examination pattern is disposed on said garment in such a manner so as to overly a breast of a wearer of said garment.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said garment further comprises at least one alignment mark centrally disposed within said at least one examination pattern, said at least one alignment mark utilized to center a nipple of the breast of the wearer thereunder to properly align said at least one examination pattern over the breast.
 24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said garment further comprises at least one aperture centrally formed through said at least one examination pattern, said at least one aperture utilized to center a nipple of the breast of the wearer therethrough to properly align said at least one examination pattern over the breast.
 25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said garment further comprises at least one armpit examination pattern disposed under an armpit area of said garment.
 26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said at least one examination pattern is selected from the group consisting of vertical patterns, spiral patterns, wedge patterns, quadrant patterns, circumscribed areas, sectionalized patterns, arrowed patterns, colored patterns, differently lined patterns, textured patterns, and combinations thereof.
 27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said at least one marking instrument is selected from the group consisting of permanent ink pens, temporary ink pens, non-permanent ink pens, washable ink, differently colored pens, differently colored marking instruments, hook-and-loop fasteners, stickers, and combinations thereof.
 28. A method of breast self-examination, comprising the steps of: a. obtaining a breast self-examination apparatus, comprising: a form-fitting garment; and, at least one examination pattern disposed on said garment; and b. putting on said garment; c. aligning said at least one examination pattern over a breast; and, d. examining and palpating the breast from the outside of said garment via guiding at least one finger over said at least one examination pattern.
 29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of: e. marking or designating directly on said garment areas of suspected abnormalities via at least one marking instrument. 